How the 'Climate & Sustainable Development Goals' Conference Ties in with NIRAS' goals

This piece was written by our Denmark- and UK-based colleagues Project Manager Laura Schmid, Project Assistant Caroline Juel Fritzen and Analyst in the Early Career Development Programme Ella Davidson.

That question was at the heart of the Global Climate and SDG Synergy Conference we had the chance to attend in Copenhagen this May. Over two packed days, we joined hundreds of practitioners, policymakers and youth leaders grappling with one of the most urgent challenges of our time: how to align climate and development goals in a way that is coherent, fair and actionable.

From frank conversations about financing gaps to inspiring examples of local solutions, the conference reminded us that progress is possible—but only if we build bridges: between institutions, sectors and, above all, people. Here are three reflections we took home.

Cohesion in climate action

A core theme that arose over the two days highlighted the challenge of balancing the pressing climate and development crises, with the simultaneous need to align financing and overcome institutional fragmentation, particularly the lack of sufficient investment in emerging and developing countries.

The discussions we attended underscored the enormous costs of inaction and the substantial benefits of investing in the green transition and climate resilience. These investments not only mitigate climate risks but also pave the way for a new form of economic growth. It reinforced our ideas that capacity building is needed at all levels through collaboration and knowledge sharing to create resilient and sustainable communities. This can be done through a holistic approach considering environmental, social and economic impacts we can drive meaningful change and contribute to both the achievement of the SDGs and overcoming climate challenges.

At NIRAS we adopt this holistic approach, placing sustainable development goals or SDGs at the centre of our work. We believe that aligning our work with the SDGs enables us to identify and deliver solutions that contribute to a more sustainable and equitable world – a fundamental objective of NIRAS employees.

SDG 13, in particular, focuses on three of NIRAS’ core areas of intervention: climate resilient practices, policy and planning and capacity development. In our recent impact report, we demonstrated that NIRAS has supported approximately 1,673,090 people in becoming more resilient to climate change and has assisted 4,553 organisations in improving their work on climate change, environmental issues, or natural resource management.

This alignment in values of NIRAS and the overall message of the conference was aptly reflected during one of the sessions by Nicholas Stern (British Economist): 

“We will not overcome world poverty unless we manage climate change successfully. I've spent my life as a development economist and it's crystal clear that we succeed or fail on winning the battle against world poverty and managing climate change together. If we fail on one, we fail on the other.”

Donor driven to country owned: Country Platforms

The development of country platforms, were also emphasised as a key solution in the future of climate finance. These platforms advocate for a shift towards country owned solutions through the utilisation of national systems, acknowledging the reality that climate change is not merely a theoretical concept but a pressing issue necessitating unique solutions for each nation.

The principal objectives for country platforms were highlighted in our sessions:

1. Enhancing country-owned programmatic financing by shifting from fragmented, donor-led projects to more coordinated initiatives;
2. Improving access to climate finance;
3. Scaling all sources of adaptive finance, including blended finance from the private sector. 

Country platforms strive to align resources with national priorities and needs, engaging civil society, the private sector and various funds to forge a cohesive investment pipeline. The focus is firmly on country ownership rather than donor leadership, with a balanced emphasis on both mitigation and adaptation to bolster resilience against loss and damage. These platforms must support not only project delivery but also project preparation, involving development banks early in the design and implementation phases.

An example of how development consultants can support country-owned solutions was NIRAS’ involvement in Supporting Peru in transitioning to a circular economy (2020-2022). NIRAS was contracted to support Peru’s transition to a circular economy led by the Peruvian Ministry of Environment and Production away from unsustainable patterns of production and consumption. This model of support to the government on their workplan demonstrates how external expertise can effectively aid national efforts in achieving sustainable development goals.

Additionally, the recurring theme of local solutions for local problems highlighted the importance of community involvement in climate finance initiatives. Through the Mobilising Finance for Forests programme we also recognise that communities need improved access to climate finance to ensure climate action. In this programme finances are mobilised to private local companies to grow their businesses away from deforestation practices, addressing a key financing gap in the Sustainable Development Goals.

Youth voices shaping the agenda

The conference clearly placed emphasis on youth as key drivers to the sustainable development goals. We found it to be “inspiring to see how many young people were gathered at the conference, leading the morning session on the second day and delivering the closing remarks of the conference, showcasing not only the inclusion of youth, but also how to create meaningful youth participation in shaping climate dialogues and solutions”.

By including youth voices we are ensuring that the voices of future generations are heard and that their innovative ideas and perspectives are incorporated into our strategies. Youth inclusion is vital as it fosters intergenerational equity and empowers young leaders to take ownership of climate initiatives, driving sustained and impactful change.

The future of climate change is in our hands

By engaging in conferences such as the Global Climate and SDG Synergy Conference in Copenhagen, we aim to remain at the forefront of current issues in the climate sector and implement these innovative solutions into our everyday practices to drive positive change.  However, we recognise that it is not enough to simply attend these events; we must actively participate, share our insights, and collaborate with other stakeholders to create a unified approach to climate action. By working together, we can amplify our impact and ensure that the advancement of the sustainable development goals.